This creamy coconut curry Thai turkey soup recipe is incredibly flavorful and easy to make. The tastiest way to use up leftover turkey or chicken!
I hope those of you who celebrated Thanksgiving had a good one. If you roasted a turkey, chances are you now have some leftovers.
This Thai coconut turkey soup is the perfect thing to ease you out of your turkey coma. It's warm and cozy but also fresh and fairly light. That's what I love about Thai food... the creamy coconut milk, fresh herbs, and vibrant flavors. Such a good combo.
Play with the flavor!
- This soup is flavorful but not what I'd call spicy. If you do want to make this soup spicier, add some grated ginger, sriracha, and/or chili paste.
- Not feeling some of the fresh herbs? Don't include them all.
- Are you a salt fiend like me? Add a splash of soy sauce.
- Serve the soup with lime wedges.
- Taste and adjust until you think it tastes perfect.
If you like Thai-inspired recipes, you may also like my easy Thai shrimp curry, this 20 minute Thai chicken curry soup or my Thai green curry soup with vermicelli.
Naturally, this soup works well for Thanksgiving leftovers, but it could also be made on another occasion where you have leftover roast chicken or rotisserie chicken. Or just cook a turkey breast if you want something a little different. I've done that before.
More leftover turkey recipes to try:
- Quick and Easy Turkey Noodle Soup
- Leftover Turkey Wild Rice Soup
- Easy Creamy Leftover Turkey Pasta Recipe
- Creamy Turkey Soup Recipe
- Leftover Turkey Chili
I hope you'll give this leftover turkey soup a try! Questions? Ask me in the comments below.
Thai Turkey Soup
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 medium onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 3 heaping tablespoons Thai red curry paste
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups water
- Juice of 1/2 lime
- 2 cups cooked turkey
- 7 ounces rice noodles see note
- 1 red bell pepper chopped
- 1 (13.5 fluid ounce) can full-fat coconut milk
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro chopped
- Scallions chopped, to taste
- Lime wedges for serving
Instructions
- Chop the onion, red pepper, basil, cilantro, and scallions.
- Sauté the onion in the olive oil in a large soup pot for 5 minutes over medium-high heat.
- Add the garlic and curry paste and cook for 30 seconds.
- Stir in the chicken broth, water, lime juice, turkey, rice noodles, and red pepper. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low, stir in the coconut milk, and let the soup simmer for 10 minutes.
- Stir in the basil, cilantro, and scallions.
Notes
- Serves 4-6.
- Want to make this spicier? Add some grated ginger, sriracha, and/or chili paste.
- If you want this to be saltier, try a bit of soy sauce or just adding some regular salt.
- I used half a package of Thai Kitchen stir fry rice noodles (not the super thin ones) for this soup. You could add the whole package, but keep in mind it'll soak up the soup broth faster, so you may need to add more broth, especially if you reheat it.
- I used Thai Kitchen red curry paste and coconut milk. I recommend their coconut milk because it's not too watery unlike some other brands I've tried.
- Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
TJ says
Turned out pretty well, but definitely needs Sambal, and added fish sauce to get the Thai red curry flavor in full
Meridith Woods says
The most flavorless Thai soup ever.
Natasha says
This recipe is very highly rated, so I am not sure what went wrong? Can you perhaps elaborate on your comment?
Sue says
Oops, forgot to add that I used a whole can of Maesri red curry paste! It is much hotter/spicier than Thai kitchen brand (which is aromatic but really lacking in the flavor department, I think). Maesri curry pastes are available in some Asian grocery stores, but always on Am*z*on, of course.
Sue says
This is a GREAT recipe!!! Thank you for the inspiration!!
I changed it to include:
8 oz of rice sticks (they are sold in pkgs of 8 or 16 oz, so it makes better sense)
7 cups of NO SALT chicken broth (the noodles really soaked it up)
2 cans of coconut milk (1 full/1 reduced fat),
1 box frozen chopped spinach
2 tbs each fish sauce (it ain't Thai without it!) and low-sodium soy sauce
4 cups cooked turkey
Chopped peanuts
Be sure to add the chili garlic paste and ginger. So much flavor there!
The person who suggested peanut butter is a GENIUS!! 1 tsp per bowl should do it.
This soup, with the changes, was an absolute delight for my fam. We love our Thai dishes hot and spicy!
layla says
Made this recipe with leftover Thanksgiving turkey. Super easy & delicious.
Natasha says
Wonderful! So glad you enjoyed it!
Julia says
Wow I’m so impressed by how this recipe was able to totally redeem my incredibly UNappetizing and suuuuper dry turkey. I had a lot of the ingredients on hand and made similar substitutions for a couple things. So good!! This is definitely a keeper! Will definitely use it with roasted chicken as well. Yum! Thanks!
Natasha says
I'm so pleased that you enjoyed it, Julia!! Thanks for your review!! 🙂
Pam says
Oh my goodness! What a fantastic soup and a great way to use up leftover turkey! My husband and I loved this soup! I made the recipe as written but ended up using the whole 4 oz jar of curry paste to bump up the heat and curry flavor. This is a recipe I will be making many times in the future! Thank you so much!
Natasha says
I'm so happy you enjoyed it, Pam!! 🙂 Thanks for commenting!
Tom says
Hi Natasha can you make this out of green carry sauce?
Natasha says
Hi! I don't see why not. I think it would be delicious! 🙂
Patty says
This was a quick and delicious recipe to pull together after the Thanksgiving Holiday. I like my dishes a little spicier, so added some chili oil as well as sriracha. I'm sure some freshly sliced jalapeno would also be wonderful as a topping! Thank you Natasha for this amazing little gem to use the last of my Turkey leftovers!
Natasha says
I'm so happy you enjoyed it!! 🙂 You're very welcome, Patty!
Nancy Dixon says
Made it! So good. I used healthy noodles to make it even more low carb. I will be making this again!
Natasha says
Excellent!! 🙂
Terri says
OH MY GOODNESS!! I want another turkey dinner just so I can make this soup!! Added a couple carrots and a little cauliflower. SO SO GOOD!!
Natasha says
Yay!! I'm so happy you enjoyed it, Terri! 🙂
Emily says
Made as written except I used generic store brand Thai curry paste. 3 T of it made this SUPER spicy. Just fyi for others while shopping. Otherwise enjoyed it!
Natasha says
I think that curry paste must vary a lot by brand. The kind I used isn't very spicy at all, and I am not great with spice. That's good to know, thanks for mentioning!
Barb says
Absolutely LOVED♥️❣️
Didn’t have a red pepper - tried with thick sliced carrots (so they’d stay crunchy) also threw in a handful of frozen peas and some fresh ginger (per your suggestion).
Thanks AGAIN for another great recipe.
Natasha says
Fantastic!! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!! 🙂 You're very welcome, Barb!
Meryl Smith says
Have you experimented with beef?
Natasha says
I haven't, but I don't see why it wouldn't work.
Brooke says
How can I make this into an instant pot recipe?!
Natasha says
Hi! I haven't tested it in the IP. I am concerned that pressure cooking already cooked turkey will make it very dry and unappetizing and that the noodles will turn to mush. It's probably just easiest to do this on the stove, to be honest.
Fan says
10/10, I make it about once every two weeks
Natasha says
I'm thrilled to hear that! Thank you!
Lorraine Jones says
This soup is to die for !!! Both my husband, son and myself crave it so I make it lots, thanks for a perfect recipe 🙂
Natasha says
That's so wonderful to hear!! Thank you for taking the time to review the recipe! 😀
Allison Muldoon says
I never comment on recipes but have to tell you this is one of my favorite soups of all time!! I add sliced mushrooms but otherwise don’t change a thing. I’ve made it dozens of times so it’s past due I said thanks for sharing!! 😀
Natasha says
Thank you!! Appreciate you taking the time to leave me a comment (it really helps us bloggers us). And I am so glad the soup is a regular for you... love hearing that. 🙂
Kim p. says
I could only find the really fine rice noodle. I’ve made the soup but have not added the noodles! I’ve actually made this to freeze and give away! Can I just break some of the noodles off and add to each bowl before freezing, or should I just give them the soup and tell them to add noodles? I don’t want to wreck it!
Natasha says
Hi! I would add in the noodles just prior to serving (like give them the noodles to add themselves maybe).
Patricia says
This was so good though I lowered the red curry paste to 2 tablespoons and didn't have red bell pepper or cilantro. Still it was very flavorful and a change from the usual leftover turkey recipes. Thank you so much for a very original yet simple and quick recipe.
Natasha says
I'm so glad you enjoyed it!! 🙂 You're welcome!
Trish Ball says
This was fantastic and such a nice change for Christmas turkey left overs. It was such a hit amongst my moms’ group, and so continued innovation has occurred and I hear told it’s great with shrimp, mushrooms and even a bit of lemongrass. So happy to have been introduced to you and your site. Happy New Year, stay safe
Natasha says
Great!! That makes me so happy haha. Happy New Year, Trish! XO
Therese Liston says
Can leftover soup be frozen?
Thanks
The soup was a big hit by the way
Natasha says
Yes! So glad you liked it.
Audrey says
My family and I are very happy with this meal! I was a little nervous about so much curry paste, but it tastes great. Very easy to make. Thank you!
Natasha says
I'm so happy it was a hit!
Marie says
Love this recipe as does everyone in my family. This year I am putting in jars, freezing and giving in baskets filled with fresh bread and a few jars of various hot sauces, limes with a note to enjoy during this busy time. Well maybe not as busy as prior years, but a treat to enjoy nevertheless!
Natasha says
What a sweet gesture!!
Meghan says
Any suggestions on how to alter the recipe if I only have raw turkey breasts & drumsticks?
Natasha says
Yup, you can just cook it right in the soup. I would add the meat in at step 4 but not add the noodles until the last 10 minutes or so of cooking (like the recipe suggests). It really depends on the size of the pieces/if you cut them up or not (you may want to since they may be quite large) so I don't want to suggest a cooking time in case it's way off. Just make sure the turkey is on its way to being cooked thru prior to adding noodles (by the end it should be kinda falling off the bone, but using a meat thermometer will tell you if it's 165F). I also think adding another cup or two of broth is a good idea since it'll take longer to cook that turkey.
Margy says
I loved this recipe. I have made a few variations and used shrimp instead of turkey. There are so many options for this!
Natasha says
Yes! Good idea. So happy you liked it!
Kim says
I never write reviews but felt compelled bc this is incredible! Added more of the curry paste (didn't have a specific one that said Thai but it was still good), as well as broccoli and peas for more veggies. Soooo good- thank you!
Natasha says
Aww thank you!
Jody Mahr says
A delicious and savory way to use leftover turkey. I didn't have basil. Instead I used a Thai Basil Pesto that I made with the last of the Thai basil in my garden. Worked perfectly. Perhaps next time I might add some bean sprouts on top. Thank you!
Natasha says
I'm so glad you were able to tweak it. Love that you used homemade pesto.
Bridgid K says
This was delicious! It was a perfect way to use up a bunch of turkey— end it brought much needed, bright flavors post-Thanksgiving. I added more peppers, more lime, ginger, and a bit more chili paste. I’m excited to have more for lunch tomorrow!
Natasha says
I'm so pleased that you enjoyed it!!
Laura Schreiber says
What a delicious use of leftovers! My hubby and kids were suspicious at first, then gobbled it up!
Natasha says
Wonderful!!
Sarah says
What can be used as a substitute for coconut milk? I want to make this recipe however I am allergic to coconut.
Natasha says
Hmmm honestly it's kinda what makes the soup what it is. I'm not sure there is a sub that'll taste similar with the Thai flavors. Maybe try a splash of heavy cream?
Tasha says
You could try cashew cream or almond milk. My mom is Thai and doesn’t use the most of the coconut milk because it’s very fatty and the flavors are pretty much the same with almond milk. It’s a little thinner. Coconut milk is really high in saturated fat
Kim says
Made this last night for dinner, the kids loved it, not too spicy. I ate the small bowl of leftovers for lunch and it was even better the next day so don’t be afraid to make a larger pot.
Natasha says
Yay that's great!! Thanks for letting me know, Kim! XO
Aly Foster says
We celebrated [...] with a giant 25 lb roast turkey for four of us. Leftovers galore.
This was delicious!!! A very different take on typical leftover dishes. Loved it!
Natasha says
Haha I like your style! So glad the leftovers were yummy too! (I edited your comment because bloggers are being told not to use buzzwords associated with current events because it may impact search engine rankings).
Adele says
This recipe was super yummy! I was lacking a lot of ingredients... thanks [...] (no lime juice... so I used lemon juice, no fresh basil or cilantro, no rice noodles so I use cooked up some fettuccine noodles and added them) and just added some carrots & broccoli as I had no red peppers. The flavor of the soup was so good and what a great way to use up leftover turkey. Will definitely be adding to my soup repertoire and plan to make it again!
Natasha says
Hi Adele! I'm so glad that you were able to adapt it based on what you could get. Thanks for leaving me a comment! (I edited your comment because bloggers have been told not to use buzzwords associated with the current events because it may affect our search rankings, so I am erring on the side of caution)
Sarah says
This is SO yummy! I added zucchini, sweet potatoes, and carrots to bulk it up a bit! LOVED IT! I also used lite coconut milk, still turned out amazing!
Natasha says
I'm so glad to hear that!
Sarah says
Hello, when did you add in the sweet potatoes and zucchini and how long did they take to cook? Thanks
Natasha says
Not sure if she will see your comment, but if you chop everything fairly small, you could just add them in when you're cooking the onions. Perhaps give it another 5-10 minute or so on top of the indicated recipe time prior to adding in the noodles.
LInda says
Excellent soup recipe - one can do a lot with it!
My son likes more robust soups so I made Thai meatballs with ground turkey to include - they were really a great addition and can use when there is not enough turkey to add (my dilemma because a lot of extra turkey goes with the family after!) or if it's not around Thanksgiving. I used turkey carcass stock and made a big batch. Included water chestnuts, too and diced yellow potatoes and sliced baby carrots to bulk it up. Thanks for the great idea for a different kind of turkey soup than the standard versions......
Natasha says
I am so happy you like it so much, Linda! I think that's a great idea making turkey meatballs... mmm!
Maria Ricossa says
This is a Brilliant recipe and very forgiving. I followed the recipe pretty accurately but played around with the amount of red curry paste, used all homemade stock and no water, added a bit of soy sauce and hot sauce as per your suggestion, used chicken and threw in a big bag of greens near the end.
The daughter and husband proclaimed it was the best soup they’ve ever had.
Natasha says
That's great!! I am so happy it was a hit!
Pawel in Seattle says
I followed your recipe but increased everything proportionally for a huge pot of soup. Tastes great over rice too.
My dilemma? My son and his wife are vegetarians (but they do eat fish and shrimp). How to prepare your recipe so it is just as tasty without chicken or turkey stock?
Natasha says
So glad you liked it! Hmm... how about a combo of vegetable stock and fish sauce?
Bridget says
This looks and sounds delicious I think I will make it today. Thanks
Natasha says
Let me know how it goes!
Leah Henry says
I was looking for a recipe to use my leftover turkey that was not the same old turkey soup. I tried this one and was very pleasantly surprised at how good it was. I will make it again but with just a few small adjustments. Instead of adding two cups of water, I plan to increase the chicken broth to six cups for a more robust flavor. Also, since I love spicy foods, I will add a chopped hot pepper as well.
Natasha says
I am so happy that you enjoyed it, Leah!!
Abbey says
This looks amazing! Does it have a strong coconut flavor? I love coconut curry but my boyfriend does not like anything coconut so I'm hoping this could still work for us. Otherwise, I'll just have to make it for myself =)
Natasha says
Hi Abbey! I haven't made this since I posted the recipe, but I do recall tasting coconut in the broth. More for you 🙂
Tina Phillips says
I am Keto so noodles are out. Do you think cauliflower rice would work??
Natasha says
You could definitely try that, Tina!
Vivian Bellini says
This had to be the best, best soup I have ever made! I love Asian style anything! I used a left over store bought chicken with some meat left on it, I boiled and used the broth, and the meat (if I kept it much longer I would have to waste it)! I did have to add some condensed broth, I was out of red bell pepper, but used carrots instead! I did not have Curry Thai paste, so I used some curry powder and mixed it with a kind of Siracha sauce! I was also out of limes but I had lime concentrate! Now I think of it, I can't wait to make it as it was originally supposed to be!
I like it hot and spicy and even added more hot sauce!
What a great way to use left over turkey or chicken! I also like the idea of putting in a little peanut butter, as someone had suggested! Great flavor!
Natasha says
I am so happy it all worked out, Vivian!! 🙂
Adrienne Ziemer says
I added 12 oz of frozen cauliflower rice and it was a great addition!
Connie says
Made as is. DELICIOUS!! What a nice change from traditional Turkey Soup. Thank you for this awesome recipe.
Natasha says
Wonderful! So happy it worked out, Connie!
Rosemary says
Amazing soup! I doubled the recipe and since I only had 1 red bell pepper the other one was orange; it worked perfect. I added 1.5 tsp kosher salt to a double batch. At the end, before serving I stirred in a 13.5 oz bottle of Thai sweet chili sauce and 1/4 c lime juice to the Double batch of soup to give it the spice we like without making it too much. I have made it twice and the family and neighbors love me! Thank you Thank you!
Natasha says
That’s awesome to hear, Rosemary! So happy it worked well. ❤️
Lizzie says
Oops, didn't buy full-fat coconut milk, and the soup needed some texture, so I added a couple of teaspoons of peanut butter. Did the job perfectly! I'm going to make this again but probably not with the turkey which got out-classed with all the yummy spices and herbs. Very warming and pleasant.
Natasha says
Ooh peanut butter is a good idea!! I'm so glad you liked the soup, Lizzie!
Karly says
Great use of leftover turkey! Love soup when its cold outside!
Natasha says
Definitely! Thanks so much, Karly!
Kelsey says
Did you precook the noodles?
Natasha says
Nope. They only take a few min to cook. Hope you like the recipe! 🙂
Natasha's Sister says
Can you make this for me except without the turkey?
Natasha says
No. You're hilarious btw.